Natcore, Updated “President’s Message” "4¢ can quickly turn into millions of dollars".
Below is a copy of the updated “President’s Message” that was posted to the website yesterday. I apologize for the delay in updating everyone but I wanted to make sure that I was able to include the cost savings data from NREL. We are making great progress in the laboratory in Rochester and with the cost saving and environmental information we have in hand we expect to be presenting this to solar cell manufacturers very soon.
As always, if you have any questions please give me a call.
Regards,
Charles R. Provini
President & CEO
Natcore Technology, Inc.
87 Maple Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-576-8800, fax 732-576-8809
Email: provini@natcoresolar.com
www.natcoresolar.com
In a recent news release (“Natcore’s Black Silicon Technology Projected to Slash Solar Cell Production Costs by 23.5%”) we announced that our scientists had discovered how to streamline the solar cell production process in a manner that would dramatically lower its cost.
We also said that analysts at the country’s leading black silicon research facility calculated the production cost of a cell using Natcore’s black silicon process to be 13¢ per watt, while that of a conventional silicon solar cell would be 17¢ per watt.
But we didn’t put that 4¢ saving into perspective. After all, a saving of 4¢ doesn’t sound like much.
Unless we’re talking about solar energy.
Then 4¢ can quickly turn into millions of dollars. If you were making solar cells for the Mount Signal solar farm in California, a 266 MW project, a 4¢ per watt saving means you would cut your production cost by $10 million. Even a small local PV project, like the 1.6 MW Madison School District in Arizona, would yield a production cost saving of $64,000.
That 4¢ saving can provide a huge benefit for solar cell manufacturers. They can move it into their profit column, or use it to their advantage in the highly competitive bidding process for new installations.
Just as that 4¢/watt saving can provide a significant competitive advantage for solar cell manufacturers, so it can for Natcore.
Shyam Mehta, senior solar analyst of GTM Research, recently predicted “Chinese manufacturers will only be able to cut prices by 1¢ in the next year or so.” If Chinese manufacturers will be able to reduce the cost by only 1¢ in the next year or so, I am confident that our 4¢ cost reduction – which we already have in hand – will be noticed immediately.
What is even more special about this evolution in black silicon technology is that our team has provided a process that is manufacturing friendly. Manufacturers will benefit by having their cells leave the diffusion furnace and go directly to screen printing: no solutions, no drying, no vacuum processes. Also, no hazardous silane, no phosphorous oxychloride, no hazardous effluents.
We are making plans to take our technology to market. Our Science Advisory Board members – Dr. Dave Carlson and Dr. Daniele Margadonna – have deep roots in the global photovoltaic industry. We believe they can provide entrée to the manufacturers of solar cell production equipment. That would be an early step.
Stay tuned.
Sincerely,
Charles R. Provini
President & CEO
